Anti-Abortion Petitions Turned In

An anti-abortion group says it has collected enough signatures to create an initiative that would outlaw a specific type of abortion in Michigan.

The Michigan Values Life Committee is targeting the dilation and evacuation procedure that was used in seven percent of abortions in our state last year, in the second trimester of pregnancy.

Through Michigan Right to Life, the committee has submitted to the state petitions it claims contain 380,000 signatures. Around 340,000 signatures would need to be verified by state officials to confirm the initiative. 

If enough signatures are verified, the legislature will have 40 days to take up the measure and vote on it. If both the House and Senate pass it, it will become law.

The Republican-led legislature would be likely to do that. It passed a similar measure earlier this year, but did not send it to Democratic Governor Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer had promised to veto it.

Statewide initiatives approved by the legislature cannot be vetoed by the governor. 

If the legislature does not approve the initiative, it would head to the ballot for a statewide vote in the November, 2020, election.